rights organizations like the naacp, the famed comedian bill cosby. he was critical of you, yes? >> he was. daddy is supposed to tell you. the thing is you did booty call. the question is why are you calling the booty? that's the whole thing. you don't do that type of, you know. >> reporter: did you agree with the criticism? >> yeah. i mean, yeah. booty call wasn't exactly, you know, oscar words. i was trying to stay in the game. >> reporter: staying in the game and upping his game meant going for bigger roles with big-name directors like oliver stone in "any given sunday." >> the plays, i call. are you with me, son? >> yeah, i'm with you. reporter: he looks at you and says you're terrible because he said i was too much about that shininess so i had to learn. in al iecht, it was actor will smith who convinced director michael mann to hire jamie foxx. >> float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. >> this is michael, man. read it. >> reporter: i'm quoting you. i play a slave, and i would like... man, are we dating here or what? >> now whoever i work with